[HPforGrownups] Re: Runes

[charme]

No: HPFGUIDX 122053



Geoff:
The "religious right", which I think is more noticeable in the US
than the UK represents the ultra-evangelical group who have
campaigned against Harry Potter because of perceived witchcraft and
black magic which I would object too as well if I thought that was
the intent of JKR. It should be remembered that "acceptable" writers
such as Tolkien and Lewis also make use of magic in a similar way.

charme:

First, thank you so much for your reply and explaining it - I hestitated 
before sending the original reply as I didn't want to offend anyone, nor do 
I wish to offend, annoy or provoke with my comments below.

To the point of Lewis specifically and having re-read the Chronicles of 
Narnia recently, I was totally surprised any of the people whom I know to be 
"ultra conservative" or avowed members of the religious right (I know a few) 
thought of him as an acceptable Christian writer at all! What's even weirder 
is some of the same aforementioned acquaintances *disagree* on who is 
acceptable:  most can stomach Lewis, but not Tolkien and definitely not JKR 
and Harry Potter.

(I'm sure you hear the "whoooop" "whooop" of the soapbox siren - yep, that's 
me about to get on) This might sound testy and I don't mean it to at all (I 
repeat: I don't mean it to), but whether JKR means to provide a perception 
of witchcraft or black magic to me is irrelevant, because 1)this is a 
fictional story and 2)what she says isn't going to mean jack to what I 
believe spiritually. To me, so what f the religious right campaigns against 
HP and JKR?  HP is entertainment, not fact, to me and the "religious right" 
has no right to tell me what I can't or cannot corrupt myself and my 
imagination with :)  Take yourself for example: I'm sure you're a nice guy 
and mighty respectable, but if you objected to what I like to read, I'd hear 
you but I wouldn't listen, if that makes sense? There also are probably a 
lot of people who believe the same thing: millions of Potter fans and books 
sold can speak volumes. (Pardon the pun :))

<snip>

Geoff:
 After all, Tolkien uses a runic script for the
dwarves and Sindarin Elves. Then there are the runes which we have
been discussing - runes of power - which do leave me wondering where
they fit in our interpretation of good and bad magic.

charme:

I'm not sure about the these runes being depicted as runes of power, and 
mind you, I had *no idea* that runes were such a sticky wicket for some 
people. I thought that kind of concern was strictly relegated to the Oujia 
board so I was suprised to see the postings.

To me, I think the way JKR incorporates them is indicative of comphrehension 
(to your point about written communication) of them rather than occult: we 
know about them as a subject, and then we also know about them as the 
writings on the Pensieve, I think. All to me possibly indicative of a 
language which wizards at one time may have used, maybe the way the 
Egyptians used glyphs. (JKR loves linguistics, doesn't she?)  IMO, this is 
supported by JKR's own statements that the shape isn't the most important 
aspect, and I interpret this to mean that what the scar does for Harry and 
fact he has it rather than how it's shaped will be the important point in 
his having it at all.  The first thing we know in the books is Harry's 
identified by his scar, then we discover the notion Harry's scar (via what 
happened to him at GH) could function as sort of an "alarm bell" for him as 
Fudge coined his question to DD about it. Then we find out why Harry got the 
scar in OoP per the prophecy -  DD (who is the voice of JKR in a sense) 
seems to perceive that it symbolically marks Harry as LV's equal and the 
person to whom the prophecy describes. Identification yet again of who and 
what Harry is.

Geoff:
There is also the fact that in the long series of Rosicrucian posts, Hans 
has, on
occasion, used portions of the Old and New Testaments in a way which
I believe to be out of context with the intention of Jesus or the quoted 
writer

<brief snip>

There are also cycles of perception as to who is driving
the "spiritual" side in interpreting the world of Harry.

charme:

Oh, I can't agree more about the spiritual interpretations.  My oh my, there 
are a plenty, aren't there? This is the beauty of the written word: Bible or 
literature, each person has to decide what it means to him or her. It's the 
same about religion for each individual, isn't it? Otherwise, there wouldn't 
be as many religions nor denominations in Christianity. It's amusing to me 
that so much is made of the "spiritual" interpretations by the groups you 
rightly identified simply because it progresses from interpretation to 
religious mantra for some when there are far other more pressing events in 
the world to devote positive energy towards. I often think the same people 
need reminding this (HP) is a series of fiction, not a way of life. To each 
his own :) With that said, I personally don't strive to associate the books 
one way or the other with Christianity, the Bible, religion, creed or 
mantra.

<snip>

I now need to take myself off to bed. I don't usually find myself
thinking deep thoughts at 01:25!

charme:

Again Geoff,  many thanks for taking the time!






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